[Removed user]

14 December 2017 at 3:32:46 #872714

>> I had earlier suggested to Caro “If you arrive real early in Zurich then the Golden Pass Panoramic train between Zweisimmen and Montreux may even be a possibility.”

Yes that would be a possibility, but a very long day of course, and would require a fairly early start from Zürich.

I would be up for a trip like that, but many others might struggle, especially with long trips on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express planned for the following days.

But we Aussies are a hardy bunch. I am planning a trip to Sydney on the train: a journey of 11.5 hours each way, on a train that isn’t a patch on the Swiss ones! And I have done the Ghan trip as well, from Adelaide to Darwin: 53 hours! Did I mention I love travelling on trains 😉

Alpenrose

[Removed user]

14 December 2017 at 9:53:45 #872715

Thank you both for your very valuable input.

I think I’m getting a bit carried away now. My golly there are some many wonderful places to visit in Switzerland I kinda want to do them all! We are primarily going in January for the snow and the mountains so I think Zermatt wins hands down. It would be a shame to rush around too much and not have time just to relax and take in the views.

I quite clearly need to go again in the spring then I can visit Montreux and so many other places. I must admit I just didn’t realise just how much Switzerland has to offer. Very, very excited for our visit.

Thanks so much again to you all.

[Removed user]

15 December 2017 at 0:39:29 #872716

>> I quite clearly need to go again in the spring then I can visit Montreux and so many other places.

For your next visit, you might like to consider Luzern/Lucerne and the Jungfrau Region (Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn etc) in addition to Montreux. You could incorporate the Golden Pass route: either the whole route between Luzern and Montreux or part of the route between Interlaken and Montreux.

Whatever you do, think twice before picking May or November for your trip, as those times of year correspond with the maintenance periods for cable cars etc in many parts of Switzerland. They tend to close for around 4-6 weeks, although some have a shorter closure period. A lot of hotels also close during these periods. Another thing to be aware of is that mountain transport that doesn’t operate at all during the winter (mainly trains, funiculars and PostBuses on mountain routes) starts closing down from around the last week in October, and doesn’t reopen until around the last week in May. The train to the Jungfraujoch operates all year though.

When you have decided on an itinerary, it would be a good idea to check with the forum before doing any bookings, so that you can be forewarned if some of the activities you would like to include are not feasible at the time of year you have chosen.

There is also some useful information here:

http://www.myswissalps.com/be sttimetovisit

Alpenrose

[Removed user]

30 December 2017 at 17:43:35 #872717

Thank you Alpenrose and sorry for the delay in replying.

Some more questions for you all – I still cannot get out of my head a visit to the Queen studios in Montreux. I bought a package holiday (should have found you first, but hey ho!). We have a Swiss transfer ticket and half fare card. We should use the transfer ticket to travel from Zurich airport to Brig on 20th Jan. Could we use this ticket to travel to Montreux? Then catch a train from Montreux to Brig later in the day (presumably we would have to pay for this one but that’s not an issue). I’m just concerned that it would apply for travel to Brig only, although it doesn’t mention a destination on the ticket.

Would this work? I definitely want to keep our spare day in Brig for Zermatt, hence reconsidering the possibility of Montreux on the day we arrive.

Your thoughts greatly appreciated. And a Happy New Year to you all!

Caro

[Removed user]

30 December 2017 at 19:17:24 #872718

Rockoyster. Thank you for the idea. We arrive in Zurich at 11.40 am.

Caro

[rockoyster]

30 December 2017 at 20:01:08 #872719

Hello Caro,

You can use your Swiss Transfer Ticket to go from your arrival point in Switzerland to anywhere you like. The only condition is that you have to travel by the most direct route as offered by the Swiss railway timetable. So yes, you can certainly use it to go from Zurich Airport to Montreux. Trip takes around 3 hours.

[Removed user]

31 December 2017 at 14:28:39 #872720

Thanks you for clarifying rockoyster.

Should be able to get to Montreux by 4pm ish, a couple of hours no more I would think to look around the Queen Experience and see the Freddie statute (even if I do have to see him in the dark!). then to Brig on the train Should be at the Hotel by 8.30 pm I reckon.

It’s all falling into place now with less than 3 weeks to go!

Caro